How Prashant Kishor’s strategy of clean slate politics is making BJP–JDU uncomfortable

The second presss conference of Prashant Kishor against two important leaders of Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party, Ashok Chaudhary and Samrat Chaudhary, has kept the corruption narrative against the ruling camp alive. The two parties have been unable to counter his first press conference appropriately and satisfactorily which talked about how the two leaders’ activities have been criminal and anti-people needing immediate prosecution. This has apparently given leverage to the opposition parties where Kishor is seen to have checkmated the ruling parties in the political chess.

Just after the Kishor’s accusation against the current JDU Minister of Rural Work Department of Bihar Ashok Chaudhary of corruption and deputy chief minister from BJP Samrat Chaudhary of murder for the second time in a row, the ruling camp is yet to come up with sufficient answers that can explain the doubts among people against the leaders helming the state affairs. Notably, Kishor has no political baggage which his rival parties can use against him. 

When Kishor attacked the two leaders for the first time, the BJP led by Narendra Modi rolled out the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana few days later. Which was seen as a hasty initiative in the poll bound state and could work as a damage control. Under the new scheme 7.5 million women got ₹10,000 each in their bank accounts to start their own venture. The outlay of the scheme was ₹7,500 crore.

A political analyst working in the state said, "The money transfer can work both ways in Bihar actually, it will consolidate the votes of a large section of families and it can also make people think that they are trying to buy our votes and be counter productive among another section of people."

But Kishor's promise to conduct more press conferences and reveal more corrupt practices if the two leaders do not give up their positions and apologise to the people of the state has put the ruling alliance on the defensive.

The BJP-JDU alliance finds itself under considerable pressure as it faces two strong duos operating separately. On one side, the RJD-Congress combine is actively working on the ground, seeking to channel widespread anti-incumbency sentiments and dismantle the two-decade-old government led by Nitish Kumar. On the other, Prashant Kishor is steadily amplifying discontent through sharp rhetorical attacks against the top leadership of the ruling coalition, thereby accelerating the narrative of change.

Interestingly, while Kishor has been relentless in his criticism of the ruling camp, he has so far refrained from launching any dedicated assault on the Mahagathbandhan. Likewise, opposition leaders have avoided engaging in direct confrontation with him, allowing him political space. What stands out is that Kishor is simultaneously challenging both dominant coalitions in Bihar, as he attempts to carve out his own electoral base and position himself as a serious alternative in the upcoming assembly elections. According to experts, Kishor knows that he can only make an impact on ground if he is ballistic against the ruling parties and hold them accountable for any kind of misgovernance.

The BJP fears that an electoral defeat in the assembly elections in Bihar could trigger a major political unease in its coalition at the national level. At the heart of its worry lies the leadership. Which under Nitish Kumar is seen as increasingly fragile. A loss in Bihar may not only expose the fault lines in the party but could also leave a breeding ground for a split within the JDU. Several of its Members of Parliament may drift away from the ruling alliance, reducing the strength of the ruling coalition. The BJP led coalition at the centre has more than 290 Lok Sabha seats out of which JDU contributes 12 Lok Sabha members. A loss in Bihar assembly elections could weaken the BJP-led government at the Centre, creating instability at a crucial political juncture.